The arts bring meaning to our lives and spirit to our culture — so why do we expect artists to struggle to make a living? Hadi Eldebek is working to create a society where artists are valued through an online platform that matches artists with grants and funding opportunities — so they can focus on their craft instead of their side hustle.

So it goes with Android versions, too. But even though last year’s Android 8.0 (“Oreo”) hasnt even arrived for most Android smartphone users, Android P is already on the horizon, promising a slew of under-the-hood improvements and some still-to-be-unveiled must-have features.

A pre-release version of “P” arrived last week, though Computerworld blogger JR Raphael says it’s not really ready for widespread use (except for developers). A more stable public beta will likely arrive in the next month or two.

Over the past few weeks, as we’ve been getting into all the ins and outs of Android upgrades, I’ve heard some pretty troubling reactions.

It started with my annual Android Upgrade Report Card, which found the worst overall performance I’ve ever measured from Android device-makers when it comes to getting OS updates into the hands of their highest-paying customers. That point was driven home by my follow-up piece, which analyzed four full years’ worth of upgrade delivery data to illustrate just how consistent and significant of a trend the downward spiral has become.

Sometimes, a single decision can change the course of history. Join journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson as she tells the story of the Great Migration, the outpouring of six million African Americans from the Jim Crow South to cities in the North and West between World War I and the 1970s. This was the first time in American history that the lowest caste people signaled they had options and were willing to take them — and the first time they had a chance to choose for themselves what they would do with their innate talents, Wilkerson explains. “These people, by their actions, were able to do what the powers that be, North and South, could not or would not do,” she says. “They freed themselves.”

Infighting, rushed development and lack of vision have damaged Apple’s Siri development, a new report claims, citing sources involved in its development.

True, or false?

The Information cites a dozen former Apple employees for its report. Most would only speak anonymously, which means we can’t be certain the claims are true. We can be sure those claims will gain currency as they speak to the widespread narrative that Siri lags behind other voice assistants, despite research that disputes those assertions.

“Will machines replace humans?” This question is on the mind of anyone with a job to lose. Daniel Susskind confronts this question and three misconceptions we have about our automated future, suggesting we ask something else: How will we distribute wealth in a world when there will be less — or even no — work?

Apple will hold its 29th Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 4-8 at its new home, the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose. Here’s what to expect.

What is Apple saying?

Short answer: Not much. Some Apple watchers may get a little pleasure unpacking the company’s statement issued when it announced the event:

“Every year, WWDC provides an opportunity for millions of developers to learn more about how to create new experiences across Apple’s platforms for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac and HomePod,” it said.

What is Apple saying?

Short answer: Not much. Some Apple watchers may get a little pleasure unpacking the company’s statement issued when it announced the event:

“Every year, WWDC provides an opportunity for millions of developers to learn more about how to create new experiences across Apple’s platforms for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac and HomePod,” it said.

According to the US Department of Education, more than 85 percent of black fourth-grade boys aren’t proficient in reading. What kind of reading experiences should we be creating to ensure that all children read well? In a talk that will make you rethink how we teach, educator and author Alvin Irby explains the reading challenges that many black children face — and tells us what culturally competent educators do to help all children identify as readers.